Morbidity and outcome of shunted hydrocephalus.
Over an eighteen month period 50 children with hydrocephalus of different aetiologies were treated with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt during the first year of life. The morbidity associated with their shunts and their outcome were reviewed after 10 years. During the 10 year follow-up period 82% required a shunt revision. The number of hospitalisations varied widely (range 0-13, median 3). 28% suffered from a shunt infection at some time during the 10 years. Shunt revisions and shunt infections had no significant effect on long-term outcome. 72% of the infants had a good outcome and the sub-group of infants with post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus fared as well as the rest.
Pople
I K
IK
Institute of Child Health, London, England.
Quinn
M W
MW
Bayston
R
R
D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D012086:Reoperation